Four Priests Resume Teaching Duties

by Jody Veenker| November 15, 1999

1999This article is part of CT's digital archives. Subscribers have access to all current and past issues, dating back to 1956.

In the wake of Archbishop Spyridon's resignation from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, four previously fired priests have been restored to their teaching positions at the church's college and seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. Alkiviadis Calivas, Economos Emmanual Clapsis, George Papademetriou, and Theodore Stylianopoulos were dismissed after they complained to Spyridon about an alleged cover-up of a liaison between a visiting priest and a seminarian (CT, Oct. 4, 1999, p. 24).

"It is with deep joy and relief that the faithful of the Archdiocese of America receive the news that this unhappy situation has come to a satisfactory conclusion," says Bishop George, the archdiocese's temporary administrator.

The four staff members—the former college president, college dean, head of the library, and a full-time professor—will resume their teaching duties only. The special panel that rendered the restorative decision only reviewed their academic positions, not their former administrative performance.

Damaskinos V. Ganas, whom Spyridon appointed president of the Hellenic college and seminary in 1998, stepped down within days of Spyridon's resignation. A new president has not yet been chosen. "I hope and pray that all of us will unite our efforts so that [the school] may continue to function peacefully in the fulfillment of its sacred calling," George says.

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